Written by Zhang Xiaoyu

At 1: 32 a.m., April 18, 2016, (Eastern time zone of Canada), Qufu Normal University Delegation,vice president of Qufu Normal University Professor Wang Jisuo, dean of the Department of Physics and Engineering Dr. Kong Xiangmu, and deputy director of International Exchange Center Professor Sun Wei, arrived in Fredericton, the capital city of New Brunswick. The foreign director Teng Jing, Chinese director Li Minhong, the Chinese teacher Zhang Xiaoyu, volunteer teacher Cao Xi and Li Nannan, on behalf of CINB, received the delegation.

The first stop of the delegation is to visit Bliss Carman Middle School where Chinese language and culture classes have been offered since last September. BCMS is a technology rich school, and it’s the first one in New Brunswick to set up Maker Space, including 3D printer, film creation and robot designing, to promote increased learning opportunities for students and encourage students to accept new things. And, with the support of the whole school, the Chinese enrichment project has been initiated to provide a new way for the exploration of the Chinese curriculum in local middle schools. To show their respect, BCMS principal Mr. Hamilton, vice principal Ms. Cloutier, and teacher Ms. Merasty showed the delegation around the whole school, visiting the gymnasium, technology room, art room, music classroom, library, Maker space etc.. Professor Wang and Mr. Hamilton made a preliminary discussion on school's teaching methods, students training methods and the promotion of Chinese classes and looked forward to a more in-depth cooperation in future. 

Having left BCMS, the delegation made a short visit to New Brunswick University. After that, they went to the Atlantic Education International (AEI), an agency directly affiliated to the educational department of New Brunswick, and the execution unit of CINB, which provides strong supports for the promotion of Chinese language and culture. The delegation met with vice president of AEI Mr. Lawrence and the whole staff to express gratitude of Qufu Normal University and present a traditional Chinese gift, the stele rubbing work. 

The last stop of the delegation is to visit Park Street School where the volunteer teacher Cao Xi teaches Chinese language and culture. Park Street School is one of the best elementary schools in New Brunswick with 5 years experience of Chinese language and culture teaching. After two volunteer teachers' hard work and excellent performance, it has become the benchmark of Chinese curriculum for other local schools. And under the support and advocacy of principal Mr. Treadwell, Park Street School will set up the first tri-lingual school in New Brunswick in September 2016, which will also be the first one in Canada. And then, the whole school will have the opportunity to learn English, French and Chinese. The delegation listened with great interest to Mr. Treadwell’s report on the planning of creating a tri-lingual school, implementation plans and two experience exchanging meetings on April 19 and May 6. And, the delegation gave some constructive suggestions on the creation mode and implementation ways of tri-lingual school. Also, the three professors of Chinese delegation showed great interest in teaching methods and operation methods of tri-lingual school and put forward expectation of further theoretical research.

After the meeting, the delegation visited volunteer teacher Cao Xi’s office. Mr. Wang encouraged all the teachers and volunteer teachers to work harder and take initiative to get involved in the local community to get varied experiences for future life. Mr. Kong expressed gratitude on behalf of the delegation to CINB for giving helps and cares to teachers and volunteer teachers. Mr. Sun said impressively it’s a great honor to see everyone had done a wonderful job! And, CINB foreign director Ms. Teng also expressed her gratitude to Qufu Normal University for sending so many excellent teachers and volunteer teachers to Canada. She believes the whole group of CINB can make greater contributions to the cultural exchange and cooperation between China and Canada by enforcing cohesive force and leading force.

新省孔院迎贵客,汉语教学结硕果

——曲阜师范大学考察团走访新布伦瑞克孔子学院

(新布伦瑞克省孔院汉语老师 张晓宇 供稿)

      加东时间2016年4月18号凌晨,曲阜师范大学副校长王继锁教授,物理工程学院院长孔祥木教授,国际交流合作处副处长孙伟教授组成的代表团抵达新布伦瑞克省(以下简称新省)省会城市福来。新布伦瑞克孔子学院外方院长滕菁女士,中方院长李敏红女士,孔院教师张晓宇,志愿者教师曹曦、李楠楠代表孔院全体成员进行了接待。

      代表团首站参观张晓宇老师任教的Bliss Carman中学,该中学属全省重点中学,拥有雄厚的师资力量和硬件设施。是新省第一所拥有“创客空间”( 3D打印机、微电影创作、机器人设计)的中学,鼓励学生动手、动脑,勇于、乐于接受新事物。该校有着良好的多元文化氛围,自去年9月份开始邀请孔院教师开设汉语语言文化课程,之后又推出汉语精品班项目,为孔院深入当地学校的探索开辟新途径。此次接待,校方给予了高度重视,校长Hamilton先生,副校长Clourtier女士,教师Merasty女士全程陪同讲解,介绍学校的整体情况,并参观了体育馆,木工房,机房,美术教室,音乐教室,图书馆,创客空间等。王校长一行就学校的授课方式,学生培养方式以及汉语课的推广模式等和校方进行了探讨。

      离开Bliss Carman中学,在短暂考察了历史悠久的新布伦瑞克省大学后,又赶往大西洋国际教育集团,拜访了集团副总裁Lawrence先生及其他工作人员,并送上极具中国特色的碑拓珍品。该集团系新省教育厅的直属机构,是孔院项目的执行单位,为汉语语言文化的推广提供了强有力的支持。

      考察团在新省的最后一站是志愿者教师曹曦任教的花园街小学。花园街小学属新省重点小学,开设汉语语言文化课程5年,经过两任志愿者教师的辛勤付出和卓越表现,已成为汉语教学的标杆性学校。并且在校长Treadwell先生的支持和倡导下,将于2016年9月创立新省乃至全加拿大第一所三语学校,届时,该校学生将全校学习英语、法语、汉语三种语言。考察团饶有兴致地听取了Treadwell先生关于创建三语学校的大胆构想、实施方案以及关于4月19号三语学校发布会、5月6号与美国加拿大其他孔院就教授汉语的研讨会的相关事项,并对三语学校的创建模式,实施方式等方面给出建设性意见。考察团三位教授对三语学校的教学运作模式表现出高度的兴趣,并提出进一步进行理论研究的期待。

       会后,王校长一行来到志愿者教师曹曦的办公室,勉励曲阜师大师生们在新布伦瑞克更加努力工作,融入当地主流文化,拥有更丰富的人生。孔院长代表考察团感谢新省孔院对师生们的照顾。国际处副处长孙伟先生感慨作为派出机构,看到师生们在这里的一切非常放心!孔院外方院长滕菁则表示,感谢曲阜师大派来这么优秀的师生们,要让这支团队更具有宣传力、影响力,争取为中加友好交流做出更大贡献。